Phase change ink compositions comprising mixtures of ester of tartaric acid and ester of citric acid as amorphous materials

Abstract

The disclosure provides phase change ink compositions comprising an amorphous material comprising mixtures of ester of tartaric acid and ester of citric acid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A phase change ink comprising:
 a crystalline component; and 
 an amorphous component material comprising a mixture of dicyclohexyl L-tartrate and tricyclohexyl citrate; 
 wherein the mol % ratio of the ester tartaric acid to the ester citric acid is from about 50:50 to about 75:25; wherein the amorphous component material has a glass transition temperature of from about −11° C. to about −14° C. 
 
     
     
       2. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the amorphous component material is present in an amount of from about 5 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink. 
     
     
       3. The phase change ink of  claim 1 , wherein the crystalline/amorphous ratio is from about 60/40 to about 95/5. 
     
     
       4. The phase change ink of  claim 1  further comprising a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, dye and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       5. The phase change ink of  claim 1  having a viscosity of less than 22 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. 
     
     
       6. The phase change ink of  claim 1  having a viscosity of greater than 10 6  cps at room temperature. 
     
     
       7. The phase change ink of  claim 1  having a jetting temperature of from about 100 to about 140° C.